I appreciate the Dopus rename flexibility, but since I use it a lot I've noticed that the rename panel does not remember things that I would expect. It does remember some things. For instance it remembers whether I've used Simple or Advanced mode, as well as whether the Preview was enabled. So the next time I select rename it at least goes back to my preferred mode. However it will not remember the rename panel size or position, but goes back to a default size and a position which is smack in the middle of the main dopus window. Plus this is just about the worst default I can think of since it invariably covers up the files that I am thinking about renaming, so this adds an extra mouse operation for nearly every rename. If the default was to put the window in any of the four corners or if it remembered the last position of the window, renaming with Dopus would be much enhanced.
The other thing that isn't remembered (perhaps even more important) is which preset was used. The first preset is "Standard Rename" which it always goes back to as the default. It turns out I almost never use that mode. I use "Find & Replace" about 90% of the time with the other 10% going to "Last Rename" (with only occasional use of the Regular Expression mode). So this adds yet another mouse click for nearly every rename operation. Perhaps someone can tell me how to change the default to "Find & Replace" as this would avoid the extra click most of the time. (Best of course would be for it to go back to the preset that I used the last time the panel was opened).
Change the toolbar button from Rename ADVANCED to Rename ADVANCED PRESET=findrep
Change the toolbar button to Rename ADVANCED PRESET=last (although that may remember more than you want; it'll also remember the Old and New name fields and every other setting on the dialog).
Change the toolbar button from Rename ADVANCED to Rename ADVANCED PRESET=findrep
Thanks Leo. That worked and solved 90% of my complaints
Change the toolbar button to Rename ADVANCED PRESET=last
You are correct in that for a general purpose rename, that remembered more than I wanted, however what I found is if I assign the preset last function to the right click of the rename button that was pretty close to ideal
The same files in the preview list?
Well yes, I admit that since I started using the preview mode this has been slightly less annoying. Still sometimes I like to see the original file display as well (perhaps to see the size or date or something), and I still maintain the middle is a strange default location.
Thanks for your prompt and informative replies (as always).
~Paul
Most of the dialogs open centred on the window that launched them. If you think about the confirmation dialogs ("Are you sure you want to delete...?" etc.), it definitely makes sense for them.
Whichever mode (centring or remembering the last used position) is chosen can't be perfect in every situation, or for all ways of working, but I think the way it works makes sense in most situations.
e.g. If you move your lister around the screen, or have two side by side (or even on separate monitors), it makes sense for the Rename dialog to open where you're working, centred on the window that it is associated with. It's not really meant to be used side-by-side with a lister; it's designed to be opened, used, then closed.
Of course, you have a perfectly valid point for why you might sometimes want to see the Rename dialog side-by-side; I'm not saying you don't. Just explaining the design/thought process behind the way it is.
Thought I would add some additional information. I like to open the Find/Replace dialog in the newer "Regular Expressions + Find and Replace" mode. The command you require for this is:
Rename ADVANCED PRESET=regexpfindrep
although the following works the same
Rename PRESET=regexpfindrep
Note: The Ctrl+3 hotkey is assigned to the main toolbar heading button (labeled "Rename") and not the dropdown button immediately below (labeled "Rename Ctrl+3"). If you wish Ctrl+3 to default to "Regular Expressions + Find and Replace" mode you must edit the command in the former. Alternatively you could leave the main button alone and edit the dropdown button, assigning it a new hotkey, eg. Ctrl+5. Then Ctrl+3 would bring up "Standard Wildcard Rename", whilst Ctrl+5 would give "Regular Expressions + Find and Replace" mode. I did the latter for flexibility.
This is not in the documentation (as of today); I just made a guess at what the developer would call this preset if it existed, and it worked. Perhaps you could add it to the documentation Leo.
Just explaining the design/thought process behind the way it is.